Transitions

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness” (Isaiah 35:8a).

After the initial excitement wears off, the first year of homeschooling can seem quite challenging. Parents and children adjust to new routines, and things don’t always go as smoothly as planned. Gears grind as schedules get interrupted, children misbehave, and new disciplines are learned. During this crucial transition period, many homeschoolers feel overwhelmed and think they made a mistake. Some even give up and say, “Homeschooling is too hard, and it’s not for me.”

Shifting gears to homeschooling doesn’t have to be difficult if God is in control. Like an automatic transmission smoothly brings a car up to speed, God’s presence and power provide the finely tuned peace and patience that keep your homeschooling successfully cruising down the road. Whether you’re facing bad attitudes, deprogramming your children from public education, or simply learning how to use your curriculum effectively, God’s wisdom will guide you if you ask for it (James 1:5).

What’s the status of your homeschooling today? Is your patience blown like a steaming radiator? Is your engine running rough as you power through the day in your own strength? Don’t call the tow truck to send your homeschooling to the salvage yard just yet. Give God the wheel and let the Holy Spirit overhaul your homeschooling to start enjoying the ride of your life! “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Father, please guide me today as our family travels down the homeschooling highway. Empower me with the Holy Spirit and fill me with Your presence to keep going when the road gets bumpy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Comments(25 comments)

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STACEY B09/07/2009 05:19:18

Thankyou so much for the blessing of your devotionals. I believe God is really speaking to me through the messages you share. It is rare that I do not sit down to read "Daily Focus" and find it is addressing exactly the feelings I have been having that day. I am only about 6 weeks into homeschooling my 6yr old ( I have 4,2,and 1yr olds as well) and we had a pretty tough day today and I have been really wondering whether I have taken on more than I can handle. The reading today reminded me that I need to let go of the controls and give it over to God.

ANGELA G09/07/2010 05:50:24

This is our 3 week in our first year...every devotional I read has ministered to me. Thank you....

TANISHA H09/07/2010 22:01:09

I really needed this. My husband and I have been wrestling with sending our children back into the public school system. We have two children ages 6 and 7 that are being homeschooled and four children who are not of school age yet. In our household it can get pretty overwhelming at times. We don't want our children back in schoool but I have been feeling like I am failing on some days. I really appreciate your words of encouragement.

Diana H09/08/2010 18:17:01

As a mom of two girls and one of which who spent many years ill to infections brought home from public school and aggrivated with the curriculum and non-understanding teachers, I understand new parents new to homeschooling. My second child has Autism and the public school does not know how to deal with it, so we homeschool for now.
I sent my older daughter to the public high school for freshman year, she was farther advanced than they knew what to do with, so they gave her all advanced college classes, she graduated top of her class this year and is off to a University fully paid for by scholarships this fall.
My second daughter is in eigth grade now and doing well with the SOS program, she is smart in her own right and moves quickly through her daily schedule, she studies human anatomy the most it is her thing, maybe she will be a nurse.
Allowing your children to move at their own pace is the key to success, let them advance in one subject over another, don't stress yourself out if they do not do well in Math as they may be better at History. It's all a matter of devotion to letting them expand at a rate that is stress free for both parent and child.
Stay strong, be positive, and have fun teaching, you've been one since the day your children came to you.

JULIE B09/07/2011 04:42:05

thank you for this great advice and encouragement, Diana H.

ANEESHA J09/07/2011 04:45:00

Thank you for the encouragment. These messages are a great source to read! :)

JO ANNE S09/07/2011 05:40:51

Thank you Lord for your word!

CHRISTINA W09/07/2011 05:43:28

Diana H, thanks for your input, especially about letting your children excel in the subjects they most enjoy, and not worrying if they don't do as good in other subjects. I have always thought, since I homeschool my children, they should do well in everything. This piece of advice will likely take some stress out of our homeschool, although by now my children can't stand it if they make a C in anything, and usually want a chance to learn the material better and get a higher grade, which is great, too! I am going to share this advice with my kids, and see if it will help shorten the long hours of studying something they dislike, in order to spend more time on the things they enjoy. Thanks again and God Bless!

RENAE R09/07/2011 10:12:08

I have been homeschooling for 8 years and this has been the roughest start YET for us! Thanks so much for pouring God's word into my heart so I can carry on:)!

A W09/07/2011 12:38:12

I so appreciate these newsletters. I am a new homeschooler. I needed this encouragement especially today. Thanks also for the comments from Diana H. I needed to read your imput so that I can relax and stop driving myself insane:)

SHARIL K09/07/2011 12:39:23

My hardest year was last year it was the first year with my 6yr old and my 7 yr old and I had a baby. My patience was totally blown and there was a lot of raised voices. :( This year has already been much improved, I have several people praying for me and every morning I ask God to help me not yell at my kids. So far I haven't and I can't believe the calmness I have with the chaos around me, it is trully from GOD! Asking God for what you need to homeschool effectively does work.

SANDY P09/07/2011 12:57:07

You will never know just how powerful this message was to me today. I so needed to hear this and I truely believe that God has spoken to me through this posting. Thanks so much!!!

PATRICIA W09/07/2011 14:57:53

Oh, oh Oh, this day has been the worst day since we started homeschooling (our 1st year Kindergarten) and I was truly wondering if this was what was right for our daughter....we cried, we yelled, we just got through it and it wasn't fun. I actually threatened to send her to public school (something that was never a consideration for us) and just end this suffering...after reading this I am so ashamed, and repentent to God for forgetting Him in my plan for the day. He is my strength and I know I cannot do anything let alone homeschool my daughter with out Him front and center. I am to be the example of how to calmly handle confrontations and rely on Christ for all and I let her down. Thank you so much for posting this today as well as all the messages. It couldn't have come at a better time....God does answer prayor!!! AMEN.

MARY H09/07/2011 20:18:10

I love these devotions too! My life is so crazy I never get to read them until I'm in bed but they help me as I reflect on my day and repent of my short comings and ask God to help me to serve Him better tomorrow. I feel especially grateful to those who have admitted to their shortcomings...lack of patience....personal doubts of our ability to complete this task of not just educating our children but raising them to love and serve God...I can relate to your imperfections and I am thankful to find support and encouragement in so many of your comments. Thank you for sharing and for being real.

JENNIFER M09/07/2011 22:46:17

This is my 1st year homeschooling and we haven't even started yet. We live in Italy and with little or no support my 14 year old is already shredding my nerves. She misses her friends and wants to go back to school since she's convinced that homeschooling will not provide what she thinks she needs most: HER FRIENDS. My 11 year old son on the other hand can't wait to start. Our days are filled with a roller coaster of emotions and at times I think we've made the wrong decision. Thank you for reminding me that only with God at the helm can we do anything. Thank you.

AMANDA M09/08/2011 16:44:27

thank you for the daily focus. we just started our schooling for this year, i have a 11 year old and 7 year old . iam always praying that im doing the right thing, i work for the public school system, love my job but cant find it in my heart to send them and put them through what i see everyday, so when you feel like you cant do it anymore take your child, hug them, smell there sweet baby skin, and know that God put this in your heart for a reason. DONT GIVE UP!!!!!!!

DAVID F09/09/2011 09:10:29

Our 11 year old has spelling and comprehension issues that are hindering her ability to successfully complete the quizzes and tests with passing grades. I know this is only day 1 of actual homeschooling for her, so I am offering words of encouragement and asking her to pray about it. It seems like our schools are just spoon feeding the answers to the children on study sheets, but not helping our children understand the material they are studying

MARGIE G09/13/2011 07:00:59

Love daily focus. They are great! I love reading them in the morning before my busy day begins. Please do not ever stop!

CATHERINE B09/07/2012 04:34:20

I've been homeschooling for years now. But this year we have some changes with our oldest ones in college and it is really changing the schedules of the youngest ones! I needed that promise today. Because it feels like there are a few million roads that are going in many directions all at the same time and I have to keep track of all of them. I need to let God be the road guide and stop worrying about everyone.

LINDA T09/07/2012 05:00:21

Linda T
I've been homeschooling for 24 years and only have an 11th grader left in school. I have really enjoyed reading the devotions each morning. Even to a seasoned mom, they really encourage and speak the truth in God's word.

MELISSA F09/07/2012 07:05:20

I just put my last baby on the bus. :o( I was going to remove myself from the emails, but have decided to keep them coming as I take this time to regroup and refocus. It was my husband who decided to put them in public school. While I am totally against it, in submission to him, I did it anyway. I am trusting God for the blessing and going to use this time to prepare for them to come home again. Please consider placing us on your prayer list, so they can aome home sooner then later.

KATHY S09/07/2012 16:57:46

I will certainly pray for you and your children and a change for your husband's heart in this subject. I'm glad you're keeping the devotionals on your list. When you are in need is the best time to get support from other sisters and brothers in Christ.
Dear Lord,
I lift up our sister Melissa as she goes through this time of need. Please Lord put your will for this family in place. In Jesus name. Amen.

MARGARET HARDY09/09/2013 13:25:05

Please pray for me that I choose the right home school program this year. I have been really stressed and want to make the right decision.
Thank you,
Margaret

Jessica Hott09/09/2013 13:25:57

I have to say I felt like this was straight from God. This week has been so overwhelming, my husband works out of town, and this is our first year of homeschool, we have a sophomore, seventh grade and fourth grade all boys who are all different. They argue it seems all the time, I find myself in tears ready to breakdown...I have yelled and threatened to put them back in public school. I find I have no time alone, I dont want to seem selfish, I find myself not acting like a Christian, or the loving mom I am. I literally was thinking of driving my boys back to public school on Monday, Thank you for this devotional.

Ana Willis09/08/2014 13:27:36

Jessica my kids were the same, they were always arguing and driving me crazy. I started separating them one in each room for independent work and works wonders for us! I have a super quiet house everyday for an hour or two.